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Thomas gets chance to learn from Polamalu

By WTOP Staff

DAN SCIFO
Associated Press

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Shamarko Thomas wants to learn from the best.

If that’s the case, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year safety appears to have the perfect mentor.

Thomas traveled to San Diego where he worked out for a week during the offseason with Steelers strong safety and 2010 Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu, an opportunity offered by one of the premier players in the game.

“I was the first person to ever work out with (Polamalu),” Thomas said. “It’s an amazing experience just to learn from that type of guy, not just working out, but his mentality, the way he goes about his days, how he takes care of his family and how he puts God first in his life.”

Thomas initiated the conversation, sending a text message to Polamalu after the team’s mandatory minicamp in June to tell the All-Pro safety that he wanted to be great.

“He was like ‘you have to show me by your actions first,'” Thomas said. “Then, one day we got into a conversation to come out there and train with him.”

For Thomas, it was a rare chance for an in-depth look at the life of a player considered by many to be one of the best safeties to play the game. Cornerback Ike Taylor, who, like Polamalu, was drafted in 2003, realizes the significance.

“That was a first, so that lets you know how Troy feels about him,” Taylor said. “People cry just to get Troy’s autograph … let alone a young guy going into his second year, Troy taking him under his wing and bringing him out there to his home and showing him how to work.

“For me, that would be exciting and I played with Troy for 12 years, so I could only imagine (how) a second year guy (feels).”

Training with Polamalu was a life-changing experience for Thomas, the team’s 2013 fourth-round draft pick out of Syracuse. Thomas, who described a Polamalu workout ‘like a karate movie with some ninja stuff,’ said the week-long stay felt like a month.

“It was hard, but that’s what it takes to be a Hall of Famer,” Thomas said. “It works for him and I thought it worked for me, too.”

It wasn’t all grueling workouts and mental preparation for the upcoming season. There were deeper moments as Thomas said Polamalu taught him to put God first, followed by family and then his career.

It moved Thomas enough to propose to his fiancee and surprise her with a new car on the day the Steelers reported to St. Vincent College.

“I definitely matured a lot this offseason and it comes from Troy,” Thomas said. “He always told me, ‘don’t talk about it, be about action.”

He wants to do the same on the field. Thomas said he feels at ease after an up-and-down rookie season that saw him appear in 14 games. He made two starts early in the season, but struggled in the second half, suffering an ankle injury in November that kept him out two games.

“I’ve matured a lot,” Thomas said. “Last year was a fast game and a lot of things are going through your head. Everything has slowed down. I’m stable, I’m relaxed, I’m calm and I’m ready to play.”

Thomas appears primed to take the next step in his second year, rotating with the starters during the first week of training camp while veteran safety Mike Mitchell remains out with a groin injury.

“He’s always been a hard worker,” Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake said. “I think that trait is part of who he is. I think as he continues to grow and develop and understand more about how this game is played and what offenses are trying to do … once that kicks in — and it’s starting to kick in — he’s going to be really good.”

Polamalu noticed and the eight-time Pro Bowler is doing his part to help Thomas become an impact player in the league.

“It just motivates me,” Thomas said. “For a guy like that, a guy that’s going to be a Hall of Famer to take me out there and show me the ropes, it’s just an amazing experience.”

NOTES: Steelers WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is dealing with a concussion. … RB LeGarrette Blount returned after missing two practices. … WR Justin Brown practiced Saturday despite suffering a broken nose on Thursday, which required surgery.

___

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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